SYRACUSE, N.Y. - A group of high-profile citizens is ready to revolutionize government in Onondaga County by merging city and county operations.

The group -- called Consensus - will release a report today detailing 51 recommendations for streamlining operations countywide. The basic message is simple: We can do better.

Consensus will propose a centralized city-county government that would consolidate overlapping services in Syracuse and Onondaga County. Over time, towns and villages would be able to "opt-in" to the unified system by popular vote.

The primary goal, the Consensus co-chairs said, is not tax savings but rather economic development and improved public services.

The 80-page report bemoans the over-sized, outdated and inefficient structure of government in Central New York. A city-county merger, it says, could save $20 million a year in governmental administrative costs alone.

The report opens and closes with a call to action to citizens, asking for help to reverse the downward trajectory of our struggling region. Former U.S. Representative James Walsh -- one of the Consensus co-chairs -- called the report an option for "hopeful people."

"We can do better," the report says. "And we can start by creating a local government structure in the Syracuse-Onondaga community worthy of our people. A globally-competitive future depends on the modernization of each and every one of our governmental structures."

The proposed changes would redefine a system of local government that predates the Civil War. Its premise mirrors previous mergers in cities like Louisville, Indianapolis and the Twin Cities in Minnesota, but its plan is unique to this region.

"There's no one-size-fits-all," said M. Catherine Richardson, another Consensus co-chair.

Consolidation of the county's schools was intentionally disregarded since it would likely prove too big a hurdle in passing the reforms.

Most of the recommendations outline options for sharing services and standardizing operations between municipal offices like clerks and code enforcement. Others suggest establishing regional authorities and merging city and county services.

Some highlights:

Create a new, city-county government

Consolidate the Syracuse Police Department and the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office

Merge village and town courts to reduce the number of separate court justices and explore a regional court system

Combine the city and county industrial development agencies

No immediate changes proposed for fire protection, but departments should combine purchasing and training efforts

What's missing from the report is concrete details on what a new city-county government would look like -- who would govern and how would they be chosen? What steps are necessary to make the merger a reality? Those concerns will need to be addressed at a later time.

Former congressman James Walsh talks about consolidation of government at an editorial board meeting at the Syracuse Media Group headquarters at 220 S. Warren St., Monday Jan. 25, 2016. Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com

As the report is careful to say, the recommendations presented are preliminary and in no way binding. Consensus members have not yet voted on the ideas. The next step is public input. The commission will invite comments and criticism until March 16. It will release its final recommendations in late spring.

The success of the commission will ultimately hinge on political cooperation and public opinion. A city-county merger would need to be approved by various governing bodies as well as a popular vote in both Syracuse and Onondaga County.

Both aspects will prove difficult. The report comes at a time of unprecedented political distrust between the city and the county. The two municipalities are currently embroiled in a battle over development at the Inner Harbor.

As for public opinion, Consensus is encouraging input from the community on a number of forums, including Facebook, its website and a series of public meetings. Its authors are asking the people of Onondaga County to point out the plan's strengths and weaknesses by voicing their thoughts.